Gov. Patrick calls for state of emergency

Gov. Deval L. Patrick took the unusual step of banning non-emergency vehicles from roads in the state after 4 p.m. today, predicting “extremely dangerous” travel conditions during heavy snowfall periods today and tomorrow.

State emergency officials said Massachusetts Civil Defense laws provide for fines up to $500 and up to one year in jail for violating the roadway travel ban.

The ban exempts public safety workers, including contract personnel; public work workers, including contract personnel; and public health workers, government officials conducting official business, utility company vehicles and utility workers traveling to and from work, media vehicles; and travel needed to maintain critical private sector services such as energy, fuel supplies and deliveries, financial systems and delivery of critical goods; travel to support business services critical to the public, including gas stations, food stores and hardware stores.

The last time a similar ban was imposed was in the aftermath of the Blizzard of '78, state officials said.

Thousands of plow trucks and hundreds of utility repair crews were poised for massive snow removal and power restoration work through the weekend, while high tides and gale winds were threatening coastal areas.

The governor and his departments heads, huddled in the state's emergency underground bunker in Framingham, ran through a long list of precautions and public advisories at a 12:30 news conference, with the governor promising to give frequent briefings throughout the storm.

The emergency declaration allows the governor to summon the National Guard for storm relief duties. About 500 National Guard members were already on duty this weekend and another 500 are being called up for duty. In addition, about 5,000 guard members who were scheduled for training operations this weekend will be diverted to storm operations.